Mandalay to Momien by John Anderson - HTML preview

FOOTNOTES

[1] Pronounced “Bhamaw.”

[2] ‘Report on Eastern Frontier of British India,’ 1835.

[3] Vide ‘Selection of Papers on the Hill Tracts between Assam and Burmah,’ Calcutta, 1873.

[4] The Chamber of Commerce, under the able president, Mr. M’Call, had been most active in urging the despatch of the mission, and had subscribed £3000 for all expenses of their representatives, and for the purchase of specimens of manufactures.

[5] The putzo is a long narrow silken cloth of a chequered pattern, which a Burman winds round him to form a suit of clothes. The tamein is the feminine equivalent, partly of cloth, partly of silk, with a zigzag pattern, the silken portions forming the skirt, which, according to ancient custom, exposes one leg almost completely in walking.

[6] These Brahmins act as royal astrologers, who are consulted on all great occasions. The Buddhist priests took no part in the ceremonial.

[7] It appears to be made from the leaves of Elæodendron persicum, Persoön.

[8] Kalas, Burmese word for “foreigners.”

[9] See Appendix I.

[10] At this time about one million viss of salt were annually exported up the river from Shienpagah, finding its way chiefly to Bhamô and to Tsitkaw, for the supply of the Kakhyens and Shans. Lately, however, English salt is beginning to take its place, and on my last voyage up the Irawady, one flat from Mandalay carried nothing but salt. In order to proceed to Tsitkaw, it is transshipped at Bhamô into small boats, which carry only five thousand viss each, as the Tapeng is a rapid river, and rather shallow during the dry weather. On salt from Shienpagah, a duty is levied at Malé, Yuathét, and Bhamô, in addition to a boat tax, and when it proceeds up the Tapeng, an additional impost has to be paid at Tsitkaw, and a boat tax at Haylone and Tsitgna. (A viss = about 3 lbs.)

[11] Hannay, ‘Selection of Papers,’ Calcutta, 1873.

[12] In the ecclesiastical translation of the classical localities of Indian Buddhism to Indo-China, which is current in Burma, Yunnan is represented by Gandhara or Kandahár. Yule’s ‘Marco Polo,’ ii. p. 59, edition of 1874.

[13] Colonel Yule remarks that “Tartars on the Indian frontier in those centuries are surely to be classed with the Frenchmen whom Brennus led to Rome” (‘Marco Polo,’ i. p. 12).

[14] Wallago attu, Bloch and Schn.; Callichrous bimaculatus, M’Lelland; Macrones cavasius, H. B.; Macrones corsula, H. B.; Labeo calbasu, H. B.; Labeo churchius, H. B.; Cirrhina mrigala, H. B.; Barbus sarana, H. B.; Barbus apogon, C. and V.; Carassius auratus, Linn.; Catla buchanani, C. and V.; Rhotee cotio, H. B.; Rhotee microlepis, Blyth; Notopterus kapirat, Bonn.

[15] A distinguished continental Chinese scholar has informed me that this title is a civil one, denoting commissioner. In the absence of the Chinese characters, the exact title of this functionary cannot be given.

[16] The meteorological registers kept at the British Residency show the annual rainfall at Bhamô to be 65 inches.

[17] One tickal = rather more than half an ounce troy.

[18] Since the date of this visit, rest-houses have been erected for the Kakhyens by the Burmese authorities, and also by the British Resident; and some of these natives are always to be found temporarily occupying them.

[19] For this the writer is indebted to the learning and industry of the late Rev. Dr. Mason.

[20] Bayfield found no bottom at twenty-five fathoms.

[21] Tamone, a Burmese headman of a village.

[22] Tah-sa-kon, a civil title equivalent to Commissioner or Administrator.

[23] “En langue Mou-tse et Kong un homme se dit Ho-ka, en langue Kho il se dit Ka-sya.”—‘Voyage d’Exploration,’ tome i. p. 378.

[24] See supra, page 77.

[25] At a later visit the tsawbwa of Mattin declared the year 1874 to be the Kakhyen year 1320; and the following list of months was given to Père Lecomte:—(February) Ra, Wot, Shila, Cheetung, Shenan, Shimerray, Kopes-hay, Kopetang, Kala, Majea, Mahah, Hro (January).

[26] ‘Pioneer of Commerce,’ appendix v. pp. 464 and 466.

[27] A tickal is rather more than half an ounce troy.

[28] ‘Pioneer of Commerce,’ p. 186.

[29] Vide Appendix II.

[30] ‘As. Soc. Proceedings,’ 1867, p. 176.

[31] Du Halde, i. p. 199.

[32] ‘Pioneer of Commerce,’ p. 352.

[33] Grosier’s ‘China,’ vol. iv. p. 270.

[34] ‘Voyage d’Exploration,’ tome i. p. 455, &c.

[35] ‘Voyage d’Exploration,’ tome i. p. 518.

[36] ‘Voyage d’Exploration,’ tome i. p. 455.

[37] ‘Voyage d’Exploration,’ tome i. p. 514, note.

[38] Analysis by Dr. Macnamara.

[39] Thaï-neua is applied to the northern Shans. ‘Voyage d’Exploration,’ p. 409.

[40] Yule’s ‘Marco Polo,’ vol. ii. (1875), p. 244.

[41] See page 73. The name of the village was understood by us, on that occasion, to be the same as that of the district, viz. Ponline.

[42] From ‘The Legend of the Burmese Buddha,’ by Bishop Bigandet, Rangoon.

[43] It will be observed that these figures are in excess of those given by Colonel Yule, which I have quoted in the text.

[44] Arhan, Professor Douglas informs me, has the same signification as the term rahan, used by me in the text.—J. A.